Valek headed toward the Commander’s tent. The man sat on a log next to it, sipping tea and talking with Adviser Dema. When they spotted him, they stopped.
“What are you doing?” The Commander asked.
“Uh, reporting in, sir.”
“Valek, you look like death warmed over. No, I take that back. It would be an insult to those who do look like death warmed over.”
Dema covered her grin with her mug.
“That bad?”
“Yes.” The Commander gestured to a nearby tent. “Go lie down. It’s anorder.We’ll continue our journey in the morning, and you can make your report when we’re home.”
* * *
Over the next four days, Valek and the soldiers remained on high alert for any signs of an ambush. Valek gripped Onyx’s reins in white-knuckled fingers. Every step the horse took reminded him of his injuries. He was recovering a little bit each day, but not as fast as he’d like. Well, to be honest he’d love to find a magical healer right about now. Or have Fourth Magician Irys Jewelrose come for a visit. As a master magician, she could perform all the different abilities. He’d memorized all of them when he was hunting the King—who had master level powers—but he wondered if magicians kept a few of their talents a secret. It made perfect sense if they did.
He replayed the encounter with Alea in his mind. She had claimed to be gathering information. Valek hoped that meant the others weren’t nearby. Janco had become twitchy several times during the first two days after Valek’s injury. Each time, Valek had homed in on the direction of the magic and the four of them—Ari, Janco, and Dema, Valek’s temporary partner—had spurred their horses through the forest, chasing Alea.
She’d stop using her magic as soon as the thunder of the sixteen hooves rolled through the trees, but Valek hadn’t expected to catch her. No. He wanted to keep her at a distance. To let Alea know every time she used magic, she’d be a target. It seemed to work, as Janco hadn’t felt twitchy for the rest of the trip.
After six days on the road, they reached the Commander’s castle complex around midafternoon. Valek would have whooped with joy if drawing a deep breath didn’t hurt. Instead, he silently celebrated as they entered the eastern gate.
“Captains,” the Commander called to Ari and Janco.
They straightened and gave him their full attention. “Sir?”
“See to the horses and make sure the prisoner is safely ensconced in my dungeon.”
“Yes, sir,” they said in unison, then glanced at Valek in concern.
Both of those tasks would normally be Valek’s. And while he was glad the Commander trusted them enough to assign Ari and Janco the jobs, Valek turned to protest.
“Go see the medic, Valek, and then take the night off. We’ll meet in the morning.”
“Death warmed over?”
“You’re getting there, but all that racing through the woods couldn’t have been beneficial.”
“Permission to take a bath first, sir?”
“Granted. I’m sure Medic Channa would appreciate it.”
Valek grabbed his pack and trudged into the castle. What he really wished to do was to collapse in his own bed and sleep for a year, but he dutifully headed to the baths. When Valek peeled off his uniform and looked into the mirror, he finally understood why everyone treated him as if he stood at death’s door.
Purple, black, and green bruises covered the right half of his face. Scabbed over cuts lined his cheek and neck. Normally pale, his skin practically glowed in the dark. His brow was furrowed with pain. With great reluctance, he turned so his back was reflected in another mirror.
He laughed. Cylvia was being kind in describing it as a child’s watercolor. The mottled crimson, violet, and olive that stained his skin resembled something a dog had killed, chewed, swallowed, and vomited onto his back.
Valek eased into the hot water, which soothed some of the throbbing in his muscles. The rest protested the motion with sharper complaints. Despite the all-over body ache, he eventually dozed.
A sound woke him and he surged to his feet ready to fight. Medic Channa stood there with her arms crossed.
“I was planning on coming to see you,” he said, as all his injuries flared to life.
“I know. The Commander told me to expect you.”
Dripping wet, he waited.
